Dehumidification or dehydration unit for apicultural use

ABSTRACT

A dehumidification or dehydration Unit is comprised by a coil or heat exchanger of evaporation ( 1 ), a coil or heat exchanger of condensation ( 2 ), an expansion valve ( 3 ), a rejected heat air stream ( 4 ) by the condensation coil ( 2 ), a compressor ( 5 ) or another equipment for increasing pressure, a ventilator ( 6 ) is provided for rejection of heat to environment from the parts of the condensation coil ( 2 ) and a circuit or substance ( 7 ) that is to be dehydrated or demisted. A ventilator unit ( 8 ) for recirculation of air and a gutter ( 9 ) for collection of condensate in the coil, which is collected by the condensate drain ( 10 ), are also provided. An air duct ( 12 ) is provided for rejection of heat. The condensation coil ( 2 ) is divided by a border or wall ( 16 ), to use part of the heat for the reheating of the cold and dry air.

The present patent of invention has as objective an equipment or systemto extract the humidity or the water contained in environments,circuits, products or systems, in closed or opened cycle.

It is already known and widely used dehumidifiers, driers or dehydratorsof environments, ovens, circuits, products or systems, that basicallyconsist of environment heaters or ovens, either for electric resistance,heat exchanger with warm fluid in its interior, cycle of heat pump orinverted cycle of refrigeration. All these systems or circuits raise thetemperature of air and, consequently, they diminish the relativehumidity, generating a vapor pressure for the warm fluid and increasingthe capacity of this fluid, normally air, to absorb more water of theenvironment, circuit or system. This type of dehumidification has asgreat inconvenience the temperature higher than of the environment,which causes irreversible losses of thermosensible substances,properties, vitamins and proteins. In the case where in this environmentthere are people, as in laboratories and clean rooms, the thermaldiscomfort caused by the heat would be very great. Another state of theart is the dehumidification or dehydration of air through thecondensation of the water contained in this air of the circuit, systemor volume of control, through the use of the refrigeration or heatexchanger with frozen water or a frozen fluid, where the reduction ofthe temperature below of the dew point is promoted, in this manner thewater vapor contained in air condenses, lowering the absolute humidityor the amount of water per air volume. Normally, this cooled air has tobe warmed to diminish the relative humidity and thus to get dry air. Toreturn this air to the ambient temperature, of comfort or work, normallyan electric resistance or a heat exchanger with hot water or another hotfluid is used. Considering this situation energy is spent twice, one tocool the air and another one to heat it, once usually there areindependent systems to perform this function. Moreover, expensivesystems of instrumentation and control of temperature are necessary forthe correct adjustment and control of the system.

Another type of dehumidifier, dehydrator or drier is the chemical typethrough cylinder or rotating wheel of a hygroscopic or highly desiccantelement, in some cases lithium chloride—ClLi or Silica gel. Theprinciple of functioning of this widely used equipment for humiditycontrol in controlled environments consists of a transversal section ofthe wheel or cylinder where there is the humid airflow passage, and inanother section it is the airflow passage of regeneration orreactivation of the desiccant element. The process is continuous inregeneration or reactivation as well as in the dehumidification, once asthe wheel or cylinder turns, there will have a section ready to absorbhumidity while a humid section exists that is being regenerated. Theprocess consists of an airflow to be dehumidified that it is forced topermeate the desiccant element of the section of the wheel or cylinder,causing the water to be absorbed by the hygroscopic element, where theair is left dry, with decreased relative humidity. The water absorbedfor the wheel or cylinder needs to be removed of the impregnatedchemical element so that it can receive again humid air when to reachthe dehumidification section. Regeneration or reactivation occurs inanother section of the wheel. Normally a warm external airflow at hightemperature and raised airflow are used in the regeneration of thedesiccant element. Normally, it is necessary a heat exchanger warmed byvapor and a fan insufflating air. The inconvenience of this system isthe high cost of operation and installation, besides needing highinvestment in equipment, systems, accessories and control, besidesutilities as boiler to generate vapor.

PI9303857-7 deposited in the INPI, whose title Dryer-Dehumidifier ofgrains, leaves and fruits, uses in the same system and in series, theprocess of condensation of water vapor contained in air through the coilof the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle and, after that, theprocess of heating the air, with the reuse of all heat generated for thecondensation coil of the same cycle and for the compressor. In thismanner, water condenses in the evaporation coil and diminishes theabsolute humidity. The heating of the cold and dehumidified air flowoccurs in the condensation coil and the compressor. This system,differently of the previous ones, reuses the heat, which normally wouldbe totally rejected for the environment, to heat the dehumidified air,lowering the relative humidity for raising the temperature of air.

All system or refrigeration cycle removes heat of one environment (hotsource) and needs to reject this heat to other environment (coldsource), according to Law of the Thermodynamics. This function ofrejecting the heat is made by the condensation coil and, it is added tothe removed heat of the environment (hot source), the energy suppliedfor the compressor and a small quantity of energy generated due tointernal frictions. The heat has to be rejected so that the system orrefrigeration cycle can again remove the heat of the hot source, closingthe cycle. Obviously, there is the need of rejecting this calorificenergy for another environment, and that it is not the same environmentthat is being cooled.

In the proposed process of the application PI9303857-7 cited above, theaddition of the calorific energies of the environment to bedehumidified/refrigerated occurs in the circuit of the system, with thecalorific energies of the compressor and with a small worthless quantitypromoted by friction. As no rejection of heat occurs and as the timegoes by, more energy is added to the system due to the continuous workof the motor-compressor. Inevitably, this addition of calorific energyof the system will cause the heating of the air that passes through allthe set. This system becomes a heat pump instead of a refrigerationcycle. Even for the pump cycle works, it is necessary to reject aquantity of heat for a cold source. Therefore, there is the need for acold or ambient air input for mixture with the air of the system,lowering the temperature of the system and rejecting heat. In thismanner, the system is not closed anymore causing inconveniences whenfoods, spores, honey and other substances or products are dehumidified,due to the highest risk of air contamination of the system by theexternal air, and consequently, of the product to be dehumidified ordehydrated, despite the inevitable heating. Normally, this hightemperature is controlled with a thermostat to turn off the compressorand, to cause an interruption in the process, intermittent withouttemperature uniformity, lowering the yield. Depending on the dimensionsof the equipment, a great oscillation in the system with delayed time ofanswer occurs due to the long time of stopping of therefrigeration/dehumidification cycle, resting only the forcedventilation activated.

Even considering the wide use of these types of dehumidifiers, driersand dehydration units, some inconveniences can be attributed to them, asfor example the loss and deterioration of thermosensible proteins,vitamins, spores, enzymes and substances or products, modification ofthe organoleptic characteristics, evaporated or burnt vitamins,substances and proteins, contamination of the air of the circuit orsystem by external air, besides the high cost of operation, maintenanceand acquisition. In the apiculture, in special with the honey, theexposition to high temperatures causes the irreversible rising ofHydroximethylphurphural (HMF), ending up with an acidic honey. Thelegislation, not only the Brazilian as the foreign one, stipulates themaximum parameters of Hydroximethylphurphural in the honey. In casewhere it is above of a established value the honey must be discarded orthis honey of inferior quality will be mixed with one of superiorquality, lowering the quality of the final product. Some honeys need tobe dehumidified once the legislation obliges that the honey must becommercialized with relative humidity inferior of 18%. Moreover, honeyswith more than 20% of relative humidity have greater potential offermentation. Some harvests of honey are harvested from 20% to 23% of RHand, some will be mixed other honeys with lower content of relativehumidity, in this manner harming the honey with low humidity andsuperior quality and price, lowering its market value. One technique todehydrate the honey uses dehumidification with hot and dry airflow, whatincreases the honey temperature and increases the level of HMFirreversibly. Another used technique is dehumidification withenvironment refrigeration where the product is stored. It is very longprocess once the exchange area is small, unhygienic once the honey isexposed to an environment susceptible to dust and dirtiness. Anothergreat inconvenience is the acceleration of the process ofcrystallization of the honey, which occurs at low temperatures.Currently it is estimated that 25% of the honeys harvested in Brazilhave relative humidity above 18%.

The dehydration of pollen, which is a product that necessarily has to bedehydrated, must be performed in order of not creating fungi and mildew.As the honey, this process must occur as close as possible to theambient temperature in order of not to break volatile enzymes, to modifythe original characteristics and loss of thermosensible proteins andvitamins as vitamins A and E, amongst others. The equipmenttraditionally used to dehydrate the pollen is the oven, which heats theproduct and has as inconvenient the cited ones above.

Research laboratories, for example, need to dehydrate thermosensiblespores and other substances and products for tests and research, formedicaments and compounds formulations, and others. Beside the risk ofthe partial or total loss of these substances by the heat, there is therisk of contamination of the substance itself not only by the externalair but also of the environment by the substance; in case of it isharmful.

Taking these problems into account and with the intention of surpassingthem a new system of dehumidification or dehydration was searched anddeveloped, objective of present application, which possesses afundamental difference and which consists of effecting the calculationand the thermal balance between the heat removed for the evaporationcoil, the heat in the condensation coil, the amount of heat that needsto be rejected for the environment, the latent and sensible heat ofdehumidification, initial and final temperatures of the desired airflow,using to advantage only one quantity conveniently calculated of thecondensation coil for reheating the dry and cold air, and rejecting forthe environment the heat in excess.

This form of construction of the system or equipment to dehumidifysolves all the cited inconveniences, once only a convenient calculatedpart of the condensation coil is used to heat the dry and cold air, toreach the desired temperature and low levels of relative humidity.Besides of propitiating the best energy exploitation of the cycle, notonly in terms of energy but also heat.

The principle of dehumidification or dehydration of the dehumidificationunit, not only for a closed circuit system as for an opened one, is thesame. If it is for a closed circuit, the airflow is dehumidified in thedehumidification or dehydration unit, goes to the place where is desiredto keep the controlled humidity low, gains humidity, returns to thedehumidification unit, leaves water in the unit and restarts the cycle.In the case of open system the air or an amount of it is admitted in thedehumidification unit and goes for another environment returningpartially or not. The principle of functioning of the dehumidificationor dehydration unit, subject-matter of the present application, consistsof the passage of the humid airflow for the evaporation or cold coil,where occur the dehumidification or drying of air or another gaseousfluid through the cooling of this fluid below the dew point temperature,forcing the condensation of the humidity or of the water vapor promotedby the passage for a cold coil or cold heat exchanger of evaporation ofthe refrigeration cycle, being the water condensed, removed oreliminated for a reservoir while the dry and cold air is then forced forpassing for a part, conveniently calculated and adjusted of the coil orheat exchanger of condensation or hot of the same refrigeration cycle,where the dry and cold air or fluid is sufficiently and convenientlywarmed, reusing part of the heat that would be rejected by therefrigeration cycle and producing dry air with low relative humidity, inorder to take into account the requirements of dehumidification ordrying of the place, environment, circuit, chamber, system, substance,food or product, amongst others, being that the reheated dry air orfluid reaches low relative humidity at temperatures above of its dewpoint, using the residual heat of the refrigeration cycle, that was notreused to heat the dry and cold air, that is rejected for a colderenvironment than the hot condenser or coil, and independent of the dryand dehumidified airflow, without the flow crossing and thecontaminating of the place, circuit, chamber, system, substance, food orproduct, amongst others, being the rejection of the heat of therefrigeration cycle not used to advantage in the reheating of the dryand cold air, that occurs through another part or another coil orcondensation or hot heat exchanger, keeping the system balancedthermally, continuous, without functioning interruptions and taking intoaccount the Laws of the Thermodynamics.

The dehumidification unit with two condensation coils can also beconstructed conveniently calculated and adjusted so that one worksdedicated to reject the produced heat of the refrigeration circuit forthe environment and the other coil dedicated for the heating orreheating of cold and dry air.

This system has as great advantage the fact of being continuous, due tothe fact that once adjusted, determined or calculated the proportion orsize of the condensation coil to effect the desired heating of cold anddry air, the dehumidification occurs without interruptions. According tothe need of the final temperature of dry air, the area of exchange ofthe condensation coil can be adjusted, and consequently, the amount ofheat that is yielded by it to the dry airflow. One of the applicationsof this dry air to the ambient temperature is its use in towers, closedchambers, circuits, clean areas without the necessity of external airaddition, where the product that one desires to dehumidify is placed,diminishing the contamination risk.

The dehumidification process is as follow: dry air permeates the productor substance and due to differential pressure of water vapor, thesubstance, with greater humidity, and air with low humidity, releasesthe water to the dry air, extracting humidity of it. A relevant aspectand that must be obeyed so that the system functions in equilibrium, isto reject the heat for the environment of the remaining part and notused of the condensation coil for a fan or airflow. The use of a part orsection of the condensation coil to promote sufficient air heating isthe great advance resulting in a better energy exploitation in face ofthe use of part of the heat normally rejected for the environment by therefrigeration cycle to heat the cold air of the closed circuit, gettingthe maximum exploitation, performance and yield of the refrigerationcycle. There is an energetic gain in this system once energy is savedwhen maximizing the energetic use reducing the rejection of heat to theminimum as possible for the continuous functioning of the system.

On the other hand, the new constructive aspect makes thedehumidification unit simpler and more compact, once the condensationand evaporation coils are placed face to face, simplifying the assemblyand maintenance.

In the tests carried out with pollen using this new dehumidification,dehydration or drying process, subject-matter of the presentapplication, the dehumidification unit was much more efficient in themaintenance of vitamin contents if compared with the traditionalequipment of drying with oven (heating), as the MU7201461-0, AUTOMATICPOLLEN DRIER AND HONEY DEHUMIDIFIER. The results of the tests of theDehumidification Unit for the maintenance of the vitamin A after thedrying was superior about 47%, in more than 22% for the vitamin E and,and more than 100% for vitamin C, when compared with the traditionalprocess of drying with oven, with the reduction also in the losses ofthermosensible proteins. The drying time or dehumidification was fasterabout 20%, diminishing the processing time and saving energy. Therefore,the performance of this new system is superior in all aspects comparingwith the traditional process.

In the honey case, the tests carried out with the DEHUMIDIFICATION ORDEHYDRATION UNIT, all the natural characteristics of the product wereintegrally kept, without modification after the dehydration. The levelsof HMF, organoleptic properties, enzymes, vitamins and sugars had notgotten altered in all the samples, while the conventional processesmodify significantly the product. The best maintenance of the propertiesand characteristics of the product during the drying also occurred withother foods, fruits and substances dehumidified with this new equipmentand process. This equipment is of vital importance for the increase ofthe exportations and production of honeys as well as of the properdomestic commercialization taking care of the demanded standards ofquality in Brazil and the exterior. The DEHUMIDIFICATION OR DEHYDRATIONUNIT can also be used in the dehydration or drying of spores, fruits,foods, mushrooms, other products and substances, environments, seeds,grains, medicaments and compounds formulations, amongst others, once itwill be able to promote the dehumidification or dehydration in a lessaggressive way and with less degradation of the dehydrated substance orproduct, when compared with dehydration processes that use heat.

The attached drawing schematically shows the disposal of the parts thatconstitute the dehumidification unit, objective of the presentapplication in which:

FIG. 1 shows the schematic view of the system.

According to as much is illustrated in the related FIGURE above, thedehumidification or dehydration unit, subject-matter of the presentapplication, consists of a coil or heat exchanger of evaporation or cold(1), coil or heat exchanger of condensation or hot (2), expansion valve(3), airflow of rejected heat (4) through the condensation coil (2),compressor or another equipment for increasing pressure (5), fan forheat rejection to the environment of the part of the condensation coil(6), environment, chamber, circuit or substance that will be dehydratedor dehumidified (7), fan of air recirculation of the unit (8), gutterfor condensate collect (9) formed in the evaporation or cold coil (1),where the condensate will be collected by the drain (10), duct of returnof humid air (11), air duct of heat rejection (12), air inlet (13) forheat rejection, dividing wall or border of the condensation coil (16),temperature sensor (14) of the environment or chamber, connected to theduct of dry air (15).

Dry air coming from the duct of dry air (15) permeates the product orsubstance that is in the chamber or environment (7) and due todifferential pressure of water vapor, the substance, with greaterhumidity, and the dry or with low humidity air, cedes the water to thedry air, extracting the humidity and drying the product. The humid airleaves the chamber (7), goes through the duct of humid air (11) to therecirculation fan of air (8). The humid air meets the evaporation orcold coil (1) and due to the temperature, that must be lower than of thedew point of this air, the water vapor contained in this air condensesand is collected by the gutter (9) and the condensate is collected bythe drain (10). The cooled air goes now to the condensation or heatingcoil (2) where it gains heat to reach the desired temperature and entersin the duct (15) dried, being able to reach in some conditions 0% ofrelative humidity at ambient temperature. The dividing border or wall(16) of the condensation coil (2), divides this coil in such a mannerthat part of the heat, previously known, is used to heat the cooled airand the remaining part is rejected to the environment by the airflow (4)that comes by the duct (12) impelled by the fan (6) for air admission atexternal ambient temperature by the air inlet (13). Dry air returns tothe initial point by the duct (15) to again removing the humidity of thesubstance or product in the chamber or environment (7). The sensor oftemperature (14) can be used to verify the temperature of the process,to control and to adjust the border or wall (16) to control the amountof heat admitted for temperature balance. This control can be automaticor manual.

When is desired to work at constant temperature, constant operationconditions, for the same substance or for a substance or product whosecharacteristics do not vary much, the border or wall (16) can be fixedor the Dehumidification Unit can be configured to operate with twocondensation or hot coils conveniently calculated and dimensioned,respecting the same configuration of assembly previously presented andthe thermal balancing of the refrigeration circuit, being one mounted inthe duct of dry and cold air (15) in front of the evaporation or coldcoil (1) and the other coil mounted in the air duct of heat rejection(12), both the coils in series in the refrigeration circuit. With this,it is eliminated the dividing border or wall (16) since the coils areindependent and the ducts play the role of dividing wall.

Logically, the dehumidification or dehydration unit can be obtained inseveral sizes, capacities and action to take care of the necessities ofthe users of this type of equipment. Besides being able to work withseveral types of refrigeration systems as, for example, water frozenvulgarly known per “chillers”, or compression of gases, among others.The Dehydration or Dehumidification Unit, depending on the refrigerationsystem utilized possesses all the controls, sensors and security systemsfor the perfect functioning of the unit.

For applications where great capacities is needed, severalDehumidification Units can be configured in series or parallel,depending on the necessity.

1-14. (canceled)
 15. Dehumidification or dehydration unit forapicultural use, comprised by a coil or heat exchanger of evaporation orcold, coil or heat exchanger of condensation or hot, expansion valve,airflow of rejected heat by the condensation coil, compressor or anotherequipment for increasing pressure, fan for heat rejection to theenvironment of the part of the condensation coil, environment, chamber,circuit or substance that will be dehydrated or dehumidified, fan of airrecirculation of the unit, gutter for condensate collect formed in theevaporation or cold coil, where the condensate will be collected by thedrain, duct of return of humid air, air duct of heat rejection,temperature sensor of the environment or chamber, connected to the ductof dry air, air inlet for heat rejection, characterized for the fact ofhaving a dividing wall or border of the condensation coil to use part ofthe heat of the condensation coil or hot for the reheating of the coldand dry air.
 16. Dehumidification or dehydration unit for apiculturaluse, in accordance with claim 15, characterized for possessingadjustment in the dividing border or wall.
 17. Dehumidification ordehydration unit for apicultural use, in accordance with claim 15,characterized for possessing a fixed dividing border or wall. 18.Dehumidification or dehydration unit for apicultural use, in accordancewith claim 15, characterized for possessing two coils or heat exchangersof condensation or hot, one being dedicated to the reheating of cold anddry air, and the other dedicated to reject heat for the environment. 19.Dehumidification or dehydration unit for apicultural use, in accordancewith claim 15, characterized for possessing several coils or heatexchangers of condensation or hot, being part of the coils dedicated tothe reheating of cold and dry air, and another part to reject heat forthe environment.
 20. Dehumidification or dehydration unit forapicultural use, in accordance with claim 15, characterized forpossessing several coils or heat exchangers of evaporation or cold. 21.Dehumidification or dehydration unit for apicultural use, in accordancewith claim 15, characterized for working with several dehumidificationunits in series.
 22. Dehumidification or dehydration unit forapicultural use, in accordance with claim 15, characterized for workingwith several dehumidification units in parallel.
 23. Dehumidification ordehydration unit for apicultural use, in accordance with claim 15,characterized for working in opened circuit.
 24. Dehumidification ordehydration unit for apicultural use, in accordance with claim 15,characterized for working in closed circuit.
 25. Use of adehumidification or dehydration unit, in accordance with claim 15,characterized for dehydrating pollen, honey and its derivatives.
 26. Useof a dehumidification or dehydration unit, in accordance with claim 15,characterized for dehydrating spores, fruits, foods, mushrooms, otherproducts and substances, environments, seeds, grains, medicaments andcompounds formulations, amongst others.
 27. Process of dehumidificationor dehydration of air or other gaseous fluid in a dehumidification ordehydration unit, characterized for dehumidifying or drying the air oranother gaseous fluid through the cooling of this fluid below the dewpoint temperature, forcing the condensation of the humidity or the watervapor promoted by the passage through a cold coil or cold heat exchangerof evaporation of the refrigeration cycle, being the water condensed,withdrawal or eliminated to a reservoir while the cold and dry air isthen forced to pass for a part, conveniently calculated and adjusted, ofthe coil or heat exchanger of condensation or hot of the samerefrigeration cycle, where the air or dry and cold fluid is sufficientand convenient warmed, reusing part of the heat that would be rejectedby the refrigeration cycle and producing dry air with low relativehumidity.
 28. Process of dehumidification or dehydration, in accordancewith claim 27, characterized for dehumidifying or drying through theexchange of humidity between a fluid or dehumidified, dry air, at atemperature above its dew point and closed to the ambient, of lowrelative humidity and a circuit, chamber, system, substance, spores,mushrooms, fruits, grains, nuts, foods, products, medicaments andcompounds formulations, honey, pollen and its derivatives, amongstothers, with higher relative humidity, due to the difference ofpotential of humidity between them and the dry or dehumidified air.